Buying engagement ring off eBay

[Adrians_Mama]

Has anyone ever purchased a ring off eBay? I know there are obvious risks involved. I have found 3 different sellers, one who owns there own store front as well. The diamond deals you can get are incredible! Might I mention these sellers are top rated plus, have hundreds of 100% feedback and they offer 14 day money back garuntee. The one who I am looking to purchase from also stated that they can custom make any ring that I have detailed pictures of or design. I just messaged her to see if they would be willing to do an escrow account while I take it to my local jeweler and get it appraised.
My question is, has anyone ever done this before or have further advice for me? I just want to get the biggest bang for my buck.

Thanks!

 

[Dancing Fire]

Has anyone ever purchased a ring off eBay? I know there are obvious risks involved. I have found 3 different sellers, one who owns there own store front as well. The diamond deals you can get are incredible! Might I mention these sellers are top rated plus, have hundreds of 100% feedback and they offer 14 day money back garuntee. The one who I am looking to purchase from also stated that they can custom make any ring that I have detailed pictures of or design. I just messaged her to see if they would be willing to do an escrow account while I take it to my local jeweler and get it appraised.
My question is, has anyone ever done this before or have further advice for me? I just want to get the biggest bang for my buck.

Thanks!

Yes, If their stones aren't graded by GIA or AGSL lab...RUN FAST

 

[Adrians_Mama]

Thanks!

 

[distracts]

Would you post which sellers you are looking at? The best way to get a good legit diamond ring off ebay is to buy secondhand from either an individual or an estate/antiques dealer. That you mention custom making is a dodgier sign as many of these are relatively scammy, like clarity-enhanced diamonds that are only disclosed as such in tiny fine print, not offering you pictures of the actual items but only stock photos, or heavily-altered pictures of the actual items. Reviews don't mean squat since 99% of people have no idea what they are buying.

For instance,

this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Stunning-Tacori-Style-Engagement-ring-GIA-Certified-1-39-CT-VS1-Diamond-/221800385133?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item33a4554a6d

looks a lot more legitimate to me than

this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-37-carat-Certified-Princess-Cut-Natural-Diamond-Engagement-Ring-18k-White-Gold-/391175163134?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5b13db4cfe

Both sellers have good reviews, and both are unknown to me. One is a jeweler, and that is the one that looks dodgier. They're selling clarity-enhanced stones (honestly, these disclose that reasonably visibly, which is to their credit), using stock images (if you look at their listings, they have lots of different size princess rings listed with that exact same picture), etc. The first one is just an individual selling a ring because they're not using it for whatever reason and they're trying to get more than scrap for it. That's the one that's gonna actually offer you a better value. It may or may not be riskier - I don't know either seller and haven't actually read their reviews. So idk. But if I was looking for the kind of item I did a random search for, I'd personally would buy from the first guy and not the second.

 

[Adrians_Mama]

The sellers that I am looking at have actual photos. Glad you mentioned that because that was something I was looking at. I am definitely not going to buy from someone that only has stock photos. I did however see that they are EGL certified instead of GIA.

here are some sellers:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271856822699?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2648&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261931811741?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT


The first seller has many rings that I am interested in.

 

[mrs-b]

Hi Adrians_Mama

If you buy 3ctw of diamonds for $4k - you will get 3ctw of diamonds that look like they're worth 4k.

The first ring you linked to, if you view it under the 'microscope' function, shows that the pave has no light return whatsoever. It looks to me gray and completely cloudy. As for the center stone, it seems to be full of stuff - clouds, black marks - everything except any sign of hearts or arrows or any balanced patterning. If you enlarge the fifth photo under the microscope you can see it's completely occluded. The first photo, enlarged, shows the melee to be cloudy and discolored. No light return at all.

And - SI2/SI3 by EGL? That could easily be a GIA or AGS I2, or worse. I wouldn't give these rings a second look.

 

[solgen]

Wouldn't buy from either of those sellers. As previously stated look for a GIA or AGS certified stone. You think you might be getting a good deal with these vendors but you're not.

 

[Adrians_Mama]

I appreciate all of the feedback. Any thoughts on this seller?

http://m.ebay.com/itm/161680577272?nav=SEARCH

GIA certified. Has a showroom in LA.

 

[Niel]

I appreciate all of the feedback. Any thoughts on this seller?

http://m.ebay.com/itm/161680577272?nav=SEARCH

GIA certified. Has a showroom in LA.

That posting is full of red flags, to me.

What's your budget? What ctw do you need to get to? Is she very concerned about size?

 

[rubybeth]

I appreciate all of the feedback. Any thoughts on this seller?

http://m.ebay.com/itm/161680577272?nav=SEARCH

GIA certified. Has a showroom in LA.

This one still seems sketchy to me. Many of the listings have the exact same image regardless of carat weight, and the photos of the 'GIA certificate' are stock photos of a certificate from a distance, not a closeup of the actual certificate for a specific stone. If they are legitimate, why not give you the GIA certificate number? You can easily link to GIA certificates and look up the number yourself at the GIA website.

Remember the old rule... if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. I just don't think you are going to find a 2-3ctw ring for under $5k.

What is your budget, and what are you looking for in terms of a center stone and setting? PSers standing by to help...

 

[Adrians_Mama]

I'm really not wanting to spend more than 4600. Ideally a round brilliant in a cushion halo setting. Pave band. I want to get the biggest center stone that I can with that price.

 

[Adrians_Mama]

I know that when you buy from a chain store they jack up the price as far as 300%. But then there's the obvious benefit of seeing it in person and the warranty. I just want to get the biggest bang for the under 4600.

 

[DeBeersorDeSoda]

Remember the old rule... if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. I just don't think you are going to find a 2-3ctw ring for under $5k.

What is your budget, and what are you looking for in terms of a center stone and setting? PSers standing by to help...

Well, it is possible to get a 2-3 ct round brilliant for about 3200 + 1400 for the band but the stone would be very unappealing to the eye. I suppose we should ask is size your ONLY concern? It can be done if size is your only concern.

 

[Niel]

I know that when you buy from a chain store they jack up the price as far as 300%. But then there's the obvious benefit of seeing it in person and the warranty. I just want to get the biggest bang for the under 4600.

OK. Biggest bang for 4600. Do you care about color, clarity, or shape? I think you can find something that's still substantial, but we'd want to have out options open. Maybe look for stones that face up big for their ctw

 

[Adrians_Mama]

Yeah I'd like the diamond to be as eye clean as possible for that price. I'd be open to other styles of rings, not just the pave halo. Do you all have any suggestions of sites/stores I should check out?

 

[rubybeth]

I think I would look at James Allen. You can see the stones and many setting options with pave.

 

[rubybeth]

I'm on my phone but will try some links: http://www.jamesallen.com/mobile/engagement-rings/halo/14k-white-gold-pave-halo-and-shank-diamond-engagement-ring-round-center-item-17445

 

[rubybeth]

Well, we may have lost Adrians_Mama, but I had another thought: call ID Jewelry http://www.idjewelry.com/ and tell them Pricescope sent you. Tell them you want the largest eye-clean, best cut stone you can afford for around $3,500. Tell them the style of setting you want (pave halo with pave shank), and see what they can come up with. I believe they are a vendor that offers Gabriel NY settings, so you could browse that site to see options--I'd want to try to stick with settings at around $1k: https://eshop.gabrielny.com/landing/bridal

Here are a few I found with a quick search:
https://eshop.gabrielny.com/product/ER6555W44JJ
https://eshop.gabrielny.com/product/ER8635W44JJ
https://eshop.gabrielny.com/product/ER9498W44JJ

I looked on James Allen but I don't see a ton of stones that are close to 1 carat without them being heavily included or badly cut.

And, just to prove not all eBay stores are created equal, ID Jewelry also sells some pieces via eBay (photos are of the actual items, you can see their tags, etc.): http://stores.ebay.com/I-D-JEWELRY-ONLINE

A few completed rings via the eBay side of their store that may fit the bill, or at least show you what's possible within budget:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GIA-1-20-CT-D-VS1-Cushion-Cut-Halo-Diamond-Ring-18KT-White-Gold-/181772945158?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a52830706

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GIA-1-56-CT-SI2-Cushion-Cut-Halo-Diamond-Ring-18KT-White-Gold-/381292532350?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item58c6ce527e

 

[chrono]

I'm really not wanting to spend more than 4600. Ideally a round brilliant in a cushion halo setting. Pave band. I want to get the biggest center stone that I can with that price.

Where does "sparkle" fall into your priority? If you want it to be a fireball, it has to be well cut too.